Arsenal will play Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium for their 35th Premier League game on Sunday, putting them firmly at the business end of the season. This is squeaky bum time, as Sir Alex Ferguson famously put it. This club is obviously not competing for the league title, but it is the biggest and only goal they have left for the season.
With a two-point lead over Tottenham heading into the weekend, this might be one of the season’s defining moments if all goes according to plan. On matchday 36, all eyes will be on a mouth-watering North London Derby, but depending on how the rest of the season goes, that might change.
In the worst-case scenario, Arsenal might end up trailing Spurs by a single point as they travel up the Seven Sisters Road. If Arsenal lose at home to Leeds and Antonio Conte’s side shocks Liverpool at Anfield, the pressure will be on them to win their first away league match against their bitter rivals since 2014. Nobody can handle that kind of strain.
Watch the previous highlights here:
Arsenal predicted lineup:
Ramsdale; Tomiyasu, Holding, Gabriel, Tavares; Elneny, Odegaard, Xhaka; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli.
Leeds predicted lineup:
Meslier; Ayling, Koch, Cooper, Firpo; Klich, Phillips; Raphinha, Rodrigo, Harrison; James
In ideal circumstances, Mikel Arteta’s team would have a five-point advantage over the north Londoners. For that to happen, they’ll have to beat Leeds at home. They do, however, have their own game to contend with, one that takes place the day after Spurs play.
Leeds are fighting for their survival at the bottom of the table, and they are in danger of relegation to the Championship for the second time. They are only two points ahead of Everton, who are in the final relegation spot in the table, despite having played one more game, and are level on points with Burnley. Their heinous aim disparity, on the other hand, could be their undoing. They must earn points at all costs. Arsenal shares this sentiment. Never ever take anything for granted in this league.
Marcelo Bielsa oversaw a 4-1 loss at the hands of Arsenal just before Christmas-the Gunners’ ninth victory from their last 11 clashes with Sunday’s visitors-and it has been 29 years since Leeds last kept a clean sheet on Arsenal’s turf in the league, and their defensive record certainly does not hint at the end of such a streak here.
The Emirates Stadium will host Arsenal vs Leeds at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 8. The last time these two sides met in a league match was back in December, when the Gunners won 4-1 at Elland Road.
